Newcastle United could be missing three key players for their Premier League showdown against Arsenal this Sunday, with Eddie Howe providing updates on their injury concerns. The Magpies are on the verge of securing Champions League qualification after their recent victory over Chelsea. A fourth win this season against the Gunners would propel them into second place, further bolstering their impressive form during the run-in.
Earlier this season, Newcastle defeated Arsenal in both legs of their Carabao Cup semi-final and secured a victory in the league match at St James’ Park, with Alexander Isak scoring a decisive header. However, to complete a clean sweep against Mikel Arteta’s side, Howe’s team may have to do so without two key defensive players: Kieran Trippier and Sven Botman.
Howe stated that Trippier is unlikely to feature due to a minor calf problem, emphasizing that it is not a major injury. “Kieran [Trippier] I don’t think will be fit for this weekend, but again, it’s not a big injury, a very minor calf problem,” Howe explained. On the other hand, Botman had been making a return to the starting lineup but sustained a knock to his knee during the Chelsea match last week. Howe remains uncertain about Botman’s availability but hopes he can recover in time for the weekend. “We’re not sure about Sven’s availability for the weekend, but we’ll give him a chance to be fit,” Howe said, adding that the injury is not serious.
Another injury worry for Howe is midfielder Joelinton, who has been out for the past month. While Joelinton is working hard to regain fitness, Howe believes it is unlikely he will feature again this season. “The biggest possibility is that we don’t see him again this season, and we’ll get him ready for next year,” Howe mentioned.
Despite a small squad, Newcastle has managed to maintain a strong performance throughout the season, partly due to a relatively injury-free record. Howe reflected on how the January transfer window, which saw the departure of two players, has made managing the squad even more challenging. However, he remains optimistic about the team’s ability to finish the season strong. “You are always going to get one or two injuries, but fingers crossed we can maintain our strength until the end of the season,” he said.